Book Reviews

Hunter (Brawlers Bar 4) by J.M. Dabney at Hostile Whispers Press

Genre

Gay / Contemporary / Bikers / Menage MMM / Erotic Romance

Reviewed by

Christy Duke on 28-August-2017

Book Blurb

Welcome to Brawlers Bar…

If there was a way to destroy his life, Hunter Black could do it. He was a catastrophe waiting to happen. Survival was his only priority and having to leave his old life behind that meant a job of the legal variety. He’d found one as a bartender at Brawlers Bar and a safe place in a huge house with the rest of the bar crew who quickly became the family he’d never had. The one thing Hunter didn’t need was his old life tracking him down.

Deputy Wren Gramble hated his job and his weekend assignment of staking out a bar in the middle of nowhere waiting for drunks. Although he’d heard the homophobic and racist jokes going around about the crew and customers, he kept his head down and stuck to his job and nothing else. He despised being driven back into the closet, but he’d reached the end of the line and what he’d do if he earned another transfer he didn’t know.

Linus Trenton was considered the normal one in his family and according to the weird ones that meant he should be punished daily. He never came out one way or another, if he found someone attractive he was attracted. His life was complicated enough having a crush on the sweet and awkward Hunter but now he had to throw Wren into the mix. Linus didn’t have time for dating or romance, most of the time he didn’t even think about having a sex life, although, Wren and Hunter were ruining his calm.

Hunter was in lust with the handsome deputy the minute the man pulled him over, but a man like that wouldn’t give him the time of day. His friend, Linus, was another matter altogether. Hunter wanted both. His bosses made it work with their man, why couldn’t he? Could Hunter prove he wasn’t as much of a screw up as he appeared or would he have to call in backup to claim his men?

Book Review

It feels as if I've been waiting for Hunter’s story ever since I started the series. He's an anomaly among the Brawlers crew. He's big, but that's mostly his genetics, he's hairy, but he hates that, he's not a fighter, and he's smarter than all of them put together. He spent five years in prison even though he only hacked the systems, he had nothing to do with all the jewels that got stolen. And he's the clumsiest human being I've ever seen. Basically, all of that had me eager to see him happy.

Hunter had a pretty crappy childhood and once his IQ was tested… well, he graduated high school at sixteen and headed off to college, homeless. It's no wonder he got into trouble. Scholarships only cover so much and he had to eat and live. He's been at Brawlers Bar and the farm for two years and he's happy there. He considers the guys his friends and family. Too bad he's got a crush on two different men and he can't have either.

Never say never, Hunter. Wren thinks you're hot, Linus has wanted you for forever, but Hunter is so oblivious he can't understand why anyone would want him. His parents really did a number on him. In a drunken moment, Linus kisses Hunter, and then hides from him afraid he ruined their friendship. Being honest, Hunter tells Wren about the kiss, and they both discuss the attraction between the three and whether this is something they want. Of course, they still have to talk to Linus.

I really adored the romance that developed between the three men. They truly fit perfectly together as strengths and weaknesses are very evenly matched. I was, however, a little disappointed in the very disjointed telling of the story. There were a number of things going on that the author seemed to expect me to understand and it made for more than one confusing moment. Considering I have read the whole series, I didn't expect this would be the case. However, aside from my personal issues, I adored seeing these three men get the happy ever after they all deserved… especially Hunter!

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